Destin works half-mile for stakes debut in Lecomte

Todd Pletcher worked Destin a half-mile in company Saturday at Palm Beach Downs and said Sunday that Destin is on track to ship by van to Fair Grounds on Thursday for the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes. Destin drew post 13 for the race, his stakes debut, but should move in three slots since Indygo Breeze and Battle Tap are expected to be scratched in favor of a Jan. 18 allowance and Noble Thought was injured while working Saturday.

“It’s not an ideal post, but this is the plan we made, and there aren’t a lot of audibles to call,” said Pletcher, adding that Destin, who races with blinkers on, worked well Saturday under Julien Leparoux.

Tom’s Ready was the one horse on the also-eligible list in the Lecomte and also was entered in the Jan. 18 allowance, but trainer Dallas Stewart said the Lecomte is the target.

“I think he fits,” Stewart said. “The post position is just another obstacle. I wasn’t crazy cutting him back to a mile Monday.”

Meanwhile, trainer Mike Stidham said Noble Thought suffered an injury during his Saturday workout that will require surgery.

“He came back lame,” Stidham said.

Stidham still has Pinnacle Peak, who beat Tom’s Ready in a Dec. 18 allowance race, for the Lecomte.

** Lovable Lyss, who looks like the strongest threat to Silverbulletday Stakes favorite Stageplay, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds under race rider Cisco Torres on Monday. Lovable Lyss had gotten out while running through the homestretch when she worked five furlongs Jan. 4 but maintained a straight course this week.

“I think she just saw something the other day,” owner and trainer Hugh Robertson said. “She worked good today, didn’t try to get out or anything, nice and steady, and finished up strong. She’s keeping her weight on, eating well.”

** First-level allowance races for older female dirt sprinters (race 7) and older female Louisiana-bred turf routers (race 8) are the highest-class races on Thursday’s nine-race program.